Massachusetts residents enrolled in MassHealth will now receive free birth control and prenatal vitamins. This new initiative, launched by Governor Maura Healey and Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll, is part of the administration’s commitment to better reproductive healthcare. Thanks to these new standing orders, 500,000 low-income residents will now have direct access to care without co-pays or unexpected medical bills. For many, having access to these essentials can be the difference between a safe pregnancy and serious health risks.
MassHealth covers 40% of all births in Massachusetts. By removing cost barriers, the state aims to make reproductive healthcare more accessible to those who need it most. “With these orders, we are making it easier and more affordable for people to make the best health care decisions for themselves,” said Gov. Healey. Expanding access to birth control and prenatal vitamins is expected to improve maternal and infant health outcomes by reducing complications during pregnancy and ensuring individuals can plan their reproductive futures.
Residents covered under MassHealth can now visit any participating pharmacy and receive a 90-day supply of over-the-counter prenatal vitamins and a year’s worth of oral hormonal contraceptives like Opill—no prescription needed. Pharmacists will provide counseling on proper use and encourage follow-ups with a healthcare provider, reinforcing the state’s efforts to make preventive reproductive care more accessible and equitable.
Financial barriers often delay or prevent essential healthcare, increasing the risk of life-threatening complications. Massachusetts’ MassHealth initiative providing free birth control and prenatal vitamins directly targets maternal health disparities, especially benefiting Black and low-income women who face the highest pregnancy and childbirth risks. Black women in the U.S. experience maternal mortality rates three to four times higher than white women, while low-income women are more likely to suffer pregnancy-related complications due to limited access to quality care.
By eliminating co-pays for reproductive healthcare, Massachusetts is tackling these disparities head-on. Healey adds that providing prenatal vitamins and birth control at no cost, “will improve health outcomes for women and babies, and will reduce health disparities.”
With this initiative, Massachusetts is setting a precedent for how state-level policies can reduce maternal and infant mortality and ensure equitable access to care. While many states are moving to restrict reproductive healthcare, Massachusetts is taking the opposite approach, focusing on prevention and accessibility. Its policy could serve as a model for other states looking to address maternal health disparities and improve outcomes for those most at risk.
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